1. Bellwork #1: MCT2 Practice
Jonathan Miller Foreign Affairs Correspondent
               
Bellwork #1: MCT2 Practice
Read the following sentence.
What is the meaning of homage?
{1.d} [DOK 2] (Proficient)
Disloyalty
Origin
Tribute
Money
“I wish to take a moment and pay homage to those who truly believed in this crusade.”

2. Bellwork #2: MCT2 Practice
“The nurse returns in a few minutes with Mr. Hansen the principal, and two of my teachers, Miss Woods and Mr. Ziegler. Mr. Hansen knows me very well. I’ve been in his office more than any other kid in the school.”
Based upon the excerpt above, what can the reader infer?
{2.b} [DOK 3] (Proficient)
The narrator is an exceptional student who carries on positive relationships with his educators.
The principal admires the narrator’s performance in school.
The narrator has been suspended more than any other student in the school.
The narrator has had a great deal of trouble during his time at the school which resulted in multiple visits to the principal’s office.

3. Bellwork #3: MCT2 Practice
Which of the following does not support the idea that the author intended this book to be inspirational? {2.d} [DOK 3] (Proficient)
Dave Pelzer organized this book by order of importance rather than by chronological order.
The narrator is determined to survive in spite of the impossible odds.
The narrator often whines and complains to the point that his mother abuses him.
“I look to my right and see a sign that reads, ‘THE MOST BEAUTIFUL HIGHWAY IN THE WORLD.’ The officer smiles with relief, as we leave the city limits. ‘David Pelzer,’ he says, ‘you’re free.”

4. Bellwork #4: MCT2 Practice
Based upon the first person point of view of the book, which of the following words is a correct evaluation of Dave’s character?
{2.d} [DOK 3] (Proficient)
Hostile
Weak
Resilient
Affectionate

5. Bellwork #5: MCT2 Practice
The author organized with presenting information based on order of importance.
Mr. Day has suggested that the book would have been better if the author had used chronological order from the very beginning.
Is Mr. Day correct? {2.a} [DOK 3] (Advanced)
Yes, because the first chapter opens with events from the first three years of the narrator’s life
Yes, because the narrator should have started the narration with the chapter Good Times to better support the struggle to survive
No, because the chapter Good Times would not be as effective as the opening chapter to the book as The Rescue
No, because the opening chapter sets the book up by using comparison/contrast

6. Think about the following quote. What does it mean to you?
"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent."
--Eleanor Roosevelt

7. Book Reviews Page Peaks the reader’s interest in the book
“Dave Pelzer’s child experience is a testimony to the triumph of the human spirit. This book vividly articulates the abuse he suffered at the hands of his mother and the unbelievable apathy of others to his plight. Pelzer’s courage and determination will go a long way in helping the millions of children in American who, too often, suffer every day in silence.”
-Mark Riley
Child Welfare League of America

8. Title Page
Book Title
A Child Called “It”: One Child’s Courage to Survive
Author
Dave Pelzer
Publisher
Health Communications, Inc.
Date
1995

9. -Excerpt taken from A Child Called “It”
Dedication Page
A formal, printed inscription in a book that shows affection and respect toward a person(s).
“To all of you, for your courage and for putting your careers on the line that fateful day, March 5, You saved my life.”
-Excerpt taken from A Child Called “It”
by Dave Pelzer

10. Table of Contents Page
A list of the chapters/sections of a book & the page number(s) on which they start.
What can you infer about this book based on the information found in the table of contents?
What outcome(s) can be predicted based on the table of contents?

11. Acknowledgments Page An expression of appreciation
“I wish to take a moment and pay homage to those who truly believed in this crusade.”
-Excerpt taken from A Child Called “It”
by Dave Pelzer

12. Author’s Notes Page
Includes information the author feels the reader must understand prior to beginning the book.
“This book is based on the child’s life from ages 4 to 12.”
-Excerpt taken from A Child Called “It”
by Dave Pelzer

13. About the Author
Retired air crew member of the U.S. Air Force (served in operations Just Cause, Desert Shield, & Desert Storm).
Highly involved in “Youth at Risk” programs all over the world.
Carried the Olympic flame in 1996 Torch Relay.

14. Main Characters David Pelzer (Narrator)
Mother (Catherine Roerva Pelzer)
Father (Stephen Joseph Pelzer)

15. Minor Characters School Nurse Mr. Hansen (Principal)
Mr. Ziegler (Homeroom Teacher)
Miss Woods (Math Teacher)
School Officials
The Police Officer
Dave’s Brothers

16. Ability of the human spirit to overcome remarkable odds
THEMES
Ability of the human spirit to overcome remarkable odds
Survival
Courage
Disillusionment
Self
Deterioration
Mother
Father
Brothers
Russian River
Hero figures
God
Dave himself (Superman)

17. Father as “Hero” & “Protector”
When Father is home, Mother’s abuse is somewhat tolerable to David.
When Father is away, Mother has free reign on David’s torment.

18. Deterioration of Characters
“Mom” to “Mother”
Father as Hero/Protector to Father as controlled by Mother
David to “The Bad Boy” to “It” to Superman

19. Key Elements to The Rescue
His appearance & his body odor become signs of neglect.
Bruises & scars all over his body; this is how he develops a relationship with the school nurse.
Dave is forced to steal food & gets caught at school many times; this alerts the school officials of the possibility of problems at home.